Bi-directionally actuated switch mechanism

ABSTRACT

A microphone allowing actuation and operation when seated on a desk or hel in a hand includes a base member having a horizontal section and a vertical section joined along a first line. A transducer is secured in the base member for converting audio signals to electrical signals. An actuator is pivotally secured to the base member and includes a first horizontal section joined to a second vertical section each extending radially from the junction. The actuator is pivotal from a first position about said pivot point in one direction to a second position and from the first position in the opposite direction to a third position. A cam is secured to the actuator. A switch is coupled to the cam and operative in response to the actuator being pivoted to one of the second or third positions to actuate.

. United States Mont [19] Cook et a1.

[11] 3,854,016 Dec. 10, 1974 [541 BI-DIRECTIONALLY ACTUATED SWITCHMECHANISM I [75] Inventors: John N. Cook, Crystal Lake; Charles L.Madalinski, Jr., Schaumburg, both of I11.

[73] Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Chicago, 111. 221 Filed: Aug. 13, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 387,975

[52] US. Cl. 179/167, 200/6 B, 200/153 K,

[51] llnt. Cl. .t H04r 11/02, l-IOlh 19/20 [58] Field of Search.179/167; 200/6 B, 6 BB,

' 200/67 G, 61.58 R, 153 K, 153 C, 157

[56] 7 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,504 5/1935 Grahamet a1. 179/103 2,864,900 12/1958 Simmons 179/158 3,178,522 4/1965Passarelli.... 200/6 3,488,456 l/l970 Maki 179/167 X PrimaryExaminer-William C. Cooper Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Vincent J. Rauner;Eugene A. Parsons [57] ABSTRACT A microphone allowing actuation andoperation when seated on a desk or he] in a hand includes a base memberhaving a horizontal section and a vertical section joined along a firstline. A transducer is secured in the base member for converting audiosignals to electrical signals. An actuator is pivotally secured to thebase member and includes a first horizontal section joined to a secondvertical section each extending radially from the junction. The actuatoris pivotal from a first position about said pivot point in one directionto a second position and from the first position in the oppositedirection to a third position. A cam is secured to the actuator. Aswitch is coupled to the cam and operative in response to the actuatorbeing pivoted to one of the second or third positions to actuate.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENm, :53 I 01974 1 BI-DIRECTIONALLYACTUATEI) SWITCH MECHANISM BACKGROUND Microphones including apush-to-talk switch are employed for actuating radio transmittersemployed in fixed and mobile applications. In mobile applications,

' the microphone is generally held in hand with the push-- to-talkswitch being actuated by the thumb or index finger. In a fixedapplication, the microphone is seated on a stand and the push-to-talkswitch is mounted in the I base of the stand. This allows the operatortoactuate the switch without lifting the entire microphone. Undercertain circumstances, however, it is necessary for an operator at afixed location to communicate via the radio transmitter while in astanding position. Insuch instances, the operator must pick up themicrophone and stand; and use two hands, one to actuate the pushto-talkswitch and the other to hold the microphone and stand. If the operatormust use a hand, for another purpose, it becomes quite difficult toactuate the pushto-talk switch and communicate via the radiotransmitter.

SUMMARY It is, therefore, an object of this-invention to provide It isanother object of this invention to provide an im- I proved microphonestructure. including a push-to-talk switch which can be actuated ineither a horizontal or vertical direction. s i

In practicing this invention, a microphone is provided which includes abase member havinghori zontal section and vertical section that arejoined generally along a first line. A transducer is secured in thebasemember for converting audio signals to electricalsignals. Anactuator ispivotally secured to the base member with its pivotal'axis parallel tothe first line and includes a first horizontal section joined to asecond vertical section each extending radially, from the junction. Theactuator maybe pivoted from a first position about the pivotal axis inone direction to a second position'and from thefirst position in theopposite direction to a third position. A cam is secured to the actuatorand includes a V-shaped cam surface extending substantially transverselyoutwards from the second vertical section. A

switch is positioned in contact with 'V-shaped cam surfaceandisoperative in response to the actuator being pivoted to one of the secondand third positions to actuate.

' THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ,bi-directionallyactuated switch mechanism of thisinvention; 1

FIG. 2 is an exploded'perspective view of a microphone including theswitch mechanism of this invention; e

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view showing the microphone I beingoperated whileseated on a desk; and

FIG. 4 is a pictorial drawing showing the microphone being operatedwhile held in hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, bi-directionally actuatedswitch mechanism 10 includes an actuator 11 having a first leg 12 andsecond leg 13. In the preferred embodiment, actuator 11 is formed ofplastic. Legs 12 and 13 are joined at a central junction area 14 whichgenerally forms a line. Legs 12 and 13 are formed in the shape ofrectangular plates with each extending radially away from the centraljunction area. In the preferred embodiment, plates 12 and .13 form anobtuse angle with respect to one another. Pivot fingers 16 and 17 are.

formed at a central pivot area 14. These pivot fingers each have a pivotmounting hole 18 extending therethrough. A pivot pin 19 extends throughpivot apertures 18 in pivot fingers 16 and 17, and pin 19 is parallel tothe line generally formed by the junction of legs 12 and 13. Pivot pin19 also serves generally as the pivotal axis for actuator 11.

i A mounting bracket 2l includes a mounting finger 22 having an aperture23 therethrough. Only one-half of mounting bracket 21 is shown inFIG. 1. The entire bracket is shown in FIG. 2. The other half ofmountingbracket 21 is mounted to another actuator. Pivot pin 19 extendsthrough both actuators and both apertures in bracket 21. A switch 25 issecured to mounting bracket 21 and extends substantially parallel to leg12 of actuator 11. Switch 25 includes connection tabs '26 for connectingthe switch contacts to .the transmitter circuitry. Connecting tabs 26are connected to or attached to contacts 27. Contacts 27 are resilientmetal strips which can be pressed together to provide a contact closure,or which may be normally in contact with one another and allowed to moveapart when one metal strip is pushed away from another metal strip. Acam follower 29 is secured at an end of switch contacts 27 and includesa-U-shaped cam follower section 30.

Cam. surface 30 of camfollower 29 is positioned such that it restsnormally in the center or lowest depression area of U-shaped or V-shapedcam surface 35 on cam Cam 36 is secured-to the rear face of leg 12 onactuator 11 such that the V-shaped cam surface 35 extends substantiallytransversely outwardlyfrom the leg. In the preferred embodiment, camsurface 35 extends substantially perpendicular 'to the plane of leg 12.V- shaped cam surface 35 in the preferred embodiment is formedby cuttinga U-shaped or V-shaped notch in one side of a rectangular or squareplate 36 which is secured to leg 12. It is to be understood, however,that a cam of any configuration may be used as long as'it has a V-shapedcam surface.

In operation, actuatorl 1 is maintained in a first position such that acam follower 29 is seated in the lowest portion of V-shaped cam surface35." -Actuator 11 may be rotated from this first position about thepivot pin 19 in one direction to a second position by pressingdownwardly at leg 13. This movement will cause cam follower 29 to rideup along that portion of cam surface 35 farthest away from the rearsurface of leg 12. As

cam follower 29 rides up along cam surface 35, it willing in ahorizontal direction against leg 12. This will cause cam follower 29 toride up on that portion of V- shaped cam surface 35 closest to the rearsurface of leg 12. As cam follower 29 rides up on cam surface 35, itwill cause the cam follower 29 to deflect again at an anglesubstantially perpendicular to the motion of cam surface 35 and bearagainst contacts 27 in the same manner as when actuator 11 was rotatedfrom the first to the second position. The deflection of cam follower 29will cause contacts 27 to open or close, as the case may be, in order toactuate the associated radio transmitter.

Referring to FIG. 2, a microphone adopted for using the bi-directionallyactuated switch mechanism includes a base member 40 having a horizontalbase section 41 and vertical section 42. The horizontal and verticalsections are joined at a junction 43 such that a major surface of thevertical section 42 generally forms a line with the horizontal section41. A mounting board 44 is secured to the vertical portion 42 of basemember 40. Mounting board 44 may include a transducer 45 for convertingthe audio signals to electrical signals, andit may also includeadditional electrical components 46 necessary for proper operation ofthe microphone. Mounting bracket 21 is secured via screws 47 tocomponent board 44. Mounting bracket 21 is positioned such thatapertures 23 in fingers 22 are located approximately at the junction 43of members 41 and 42 and such that apertures 23 generally define a linewhich is parallel to the line formed by the major surface of verticalsection 42 and horizontal section 41. Two switches 25: previouslydescribed are mounted to mounting bracket 21. Two actuators 11 aresecured to mounting member 21 via pivot pins 19 as shown and describewith reference to one actuator in FIG. 1.

, Referring to FIG. 3, the microphone can be placed on'a desk andactuated by a person seated at the desk by depressing leg 13 and causingactuator 11 to pivot about pivot pin 19 in one direction from a firstposition to a second position. Referring to FIG. 4, the microphone canbe held in'the hand and leg portion l2 of either actuator 11 may bepushe'dvertically or in the opposite pivotal direction about pivot pin19 from a first position to a third, position. This will also causeactuation of the push-to-talkswitch.

As can be seen, an improved microphone has been provided which'allowssimple and easy one-handed operation while placed on a desk or'held in ahand. The microphone includes a switch mechanism which will allow switchactuation by actuator movement in either one of two directions. 9

l. A switch mechanism including in combinatiom'actuator means, pivotmeans secured to said actuator means, said actuator, means being pivotalfrom a first position about said pivot means in one direction to asecond position, and from said first position in the opposite directionto a third position, cam means includinga V-shaped surface secured tosaid actuator means, cam follower means engaged on the notch side ofsaid V-shaped surface of said cam means for relative movement therebetween and being deflected substantially perpendicular to pivotalmotion of said actuator means, and switch means coupled to said camfollower means and identically operative in response to said actuatormeans being pivoted to one of said second and third positions toactuate.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes; acentral junction area secured to said pivot means, a first leg portionsecured to said central junction area and extending in a first directionradially away from said junction area, and a second leg secured to saidcentral junction area and extending in a second direction radially awayfrom said junction area.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said cam means is secured to one ofsaid first and second legs and said V-shaped cam surface extendssubstantially transversely outwardly from said leg, said cam followermeans being positioned in the notch of said V-shaped cam surface andbeing operative to move substantially in one direction upon movement ofsaid actuator means from said first position to said second position andbeing operative to move substantially in the same direction uponmovement of said actuator means from said first position to said thirdposition.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said switch means includes first andsecond contact means, said first contact means including flexibleportions extending transverse to a plane formed by said V-shaped camsurface and being positioned adjacent said V-shaped cam surface, saidcam follower being operative upon movement of said actuator means to oneof said second and third positions to bear against said flexibleportions and flex the same for changing the relationship of said firstand second contact means to one another.

5. A microphone allowing actuation and operation when seated on a deskor held in a hand including in combination:

a base member including a horizontal section and a vertical sectionjoined together, said horizontal section and a major surface of saidvertical section being joined generally along a first line;

transducer means secured to said base member;

pivot means secured to said base member and having a pivotal axisparallel to said first line;

actuator means secured to said pivot means and includinga firsthorizontal section and a second vertical section joined together at ajunction generally forming a line parallel to said first line, each ofsaid first and second actuator sections extending radially from saidjunction;

said actuator means being pivotal from a first position about saidpivotal axis in one direction to a 'second position and from said firstposition in the opposite direction to a third position;

cam'means secured to said actuator means; and

switch means coupled to said cam means and operative in response to saidactuator means being pivoted to one of said second and third positionsto actuate said switch means.

6. The microphone assembly of claim 5 wherein said cam means is securedto said first vertical portion and includes a V-shaped cam surfaceextending substantially transversely outwardly from said second verticalsection.

7. The microphone of claim 6 wherein said switch means includes camfollower means, said cam follower means being positioned adjacent saidV-shaped cam surface and operative upon movement of said actuator meansfrom said first position to one of said second and third positions tofollow said cam surface.

8. The microphone of claim 7 wherein said switch means includes firstand second contact means, said first contact means including flexibleportions extending transverse to a plane formed by said V-shaped cam andthird positions to bear against said flexible portions surface and beingpositioned adjacent said V-shaped and flex the same for changing therelationship of said cam surface, said cam follower being operative uponfirst and second contact means to one another. movement'of said actuatormeans to one of said second

1. A switch mechanism including in combination; actuator means, pivotmeans secured to said actuator means, said actuator means being pivotalfrom a first position about said pivot means in one direction to asecond position, and from said first position in the opposite directionto a third position, cam means including a V-shaped surface secured tosaid actuator means, cam follower means engaged on the notch side ofsaid V-shaped surface of said cam means for relative movement therebetween and being deflected substantially perpendicular to pivotalmotion of said actuator means, and switch means coupled to said camfollower means and identically operative in response to said actuatormeans being pivoted to one of said second and third positions toactuate.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said actuator meansincludes; a central junction area secured to said pivot means, a firstleg portion secured to said central junction area and extending in afirst direction radially away from said junction area, and a second legsecured to said central junction area and extending in a seconddirection radially away from said junction area.
 3. The mechanism ofclaim 2 wherein said cam means is secured to one of said first andsecond legs and said V-shaped cam surface extends substantiallytransversely outwardly from said leg, said cam follower means beingpositioned in the notch of said V-shaped cam surface and being operativeto move substantially in one diRection upon movement of said actuatormeans from said first position to said second position and beingoperative to move substantially in the same direction upon movement ofsaid actuator means from said first position to said third position. 4.The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said switch means includes first andsecond contact means, said first contact means including flexibleportions extending transverse to a plane formed by said V-shaped camsurface and being positioned adjacent said V-shaped cam surface, saidcam follower being operative upon movement of said actuator means to oneof said second and third positions to bear against said flexibleportions and flex the same for changing the relationship of said firstand second contact means to one another.
 5. A microphone allowingactuation and operation when seated on a desk or held in a handincluding in combination: a base member including a horizontal sectionand a vertical section joined together, said horizontal section and amajor surface of said vertical section being joined generally along afirst line; transducer means secured to said base member; pivot meanssecured to said base member and having a pivotal axis parallel to saidfirst line; actuator means secured to said pivot means and including afirst horizontal section and a second vertical section joined togetherat a junction generally forming a line parallel to said first line, eachof said first and second actuator sections extending radially from saidjunction; said actuator means being pivotal from a first position aboutsaid pivotal axis in one direction to a second position and from saidfirst position in the opposite direction to a third position; cam meanssecured to said actuator means; and switch means coupled to said cammeans and operative in response to said actuator means being pivoted toone of said second and third positions to actuate said switch means. 6.The microphone assembly of claim 5 wherein said cam means is secured tosaid first vertical portion and includes a V-shaped cam surfaceextending substantially transversely outwardly from said second verticalsection.
 7. The microphone of claim 6 wherein said switch means includescam follower means, said cam follower means being positioned adjacentsaid V-shaped cam surface and operative upon movement of said actuatormeans from said first position to one of said second and third positionsto follow said cam surface.
 8. The microphone of claim 7 wherein saidswitch means includes first and second contact means, said first contactmeans including flexible portions extending transverse to a plane formedby said V-shaped cam surface and being positioned adjacent said V-shapedcam surface, said cam follower being operative upon movement of saidactuator means to one of said second and third positions to bear againstsaid flexible portions and flex the same for changing the relationshipof said first and second contact means to one another.